French Boarding Axe - A Lewis

CutlassCollector · 2nd February 2014, 03:49 PM

I posted this on the other forum, because there is a greater emphasis on the US but without much success so I thought it worth running past our learned American brothers here before I give up on it completely.

I have an 1801 model French boarding axe with the name A. LEWIS stamped into the wood of the shaft alongside an anchor. I believe this axe to be one of the several hundred French axes used by the Federal Navy.
Can anyone identify A. Lewis or his initials as an American government inspector (probably unlikely) or a supplier or importer of arms, or a retailer selling ex-military arms in the 19th century?

What makes it more interesting is the same name appears on an early British style boarding axe currently in the collection of another US collector who agrees that the stamp is identical - see photos.
Because the name is stamped in both cases and not carved we think that rules out naming the weapon to a person.
Regards CC.

2nd February 2014, 03:49 PM	#1
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 330	French Boarding Axe - A Lewis I posted this on the other forum, because there is a greater emphasis on the US but without much success so I thought it worth running past our learned American brothers here before I give up on it completely. I have an 1801 model French boarding axe with the name A. LEWIS stamped into the wood of the shaft alongside an anchor. I believe this axe to be one of the several hundred French axes used by the Federal Navy. Can anyone identify A. Lewis or his initials as an American government inspector (probably unlikely) or a supplier or importer of arms, or a retailer selling ex-military arms in the 19th century? What makes it more interesting is the same name appears on an early British style boarding axe currently in the collection of another US collector who agrees that the stamp is identical - see photos. Because the name is stamped in both cases and not carved we think that rules out naming the weapon to a person. Regards CC. Attached Images